Thomas h



(Ne Medel.)

T. H. HICKS.

SEAT.

Ne. 484,367. Y Petented oet. 11, 1892.

my invention on the line a: Fig. 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS II. HICKS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGEF. OASE, OF SAME PLACE.

SEAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,367, dated October11, 1892.

Application iiled August 17, 1891. Serial No. 402,863. (No model.)

to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in seats;and it consists of the devices and appliances hereinafter described andclaimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figurel is a vertical section illustrating Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is aplan view of a modication. Fig. l is a cross-section on the line y y,Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is another modification showing an opening in the centerof the cushion. Fig. G is a section of the same on the line z z.

My invention is designed to provideacushion-seat which may be applied tohorse-vehicles, steam-cars, chairs, dac., and more particularly totricyeles and bicycles by suitable modifications in form andarrangement.

Its object is to obtain a cushion-seat that will readily Aadj ust itselfto the individual shape of each user and at the same time preventinjurious pressure against the perinzeum, which is a common cause ofrectal, bladder, and genital troubles in both sexes, especially when theriser of the seat sits continuously thereupon for a long time, as one isapt to do when riding a Safety or other bicycle wheel. v

My invention is also intended to secure greater ease in riding, joltingbeing thereby largely prevented.

' Accordingly A represents the base of the cushion, and B the inflatablecushion located thereupon. The cushion B is preferably made of rubber,and may, if preferred, be provided with a covering of any suitablematerial, as of leather, canvas, or cloth, (indicated at B in Fig. 4.)The cushion B is secured in any desired manner upon the base A, which isformed of any suitable material, preferably inelastic, as of wood, theconstruction being such as to form an air-chamber above said base, whichmay be inflated. By the provision of an inelastic base the flexibilityof the cushion is confined mainly to the upper portion thereof, so as toadjust itself and conform to the form of the rider, the pressure of theair in the cushion being thus confined so as to be exerted upwardagainst the rider. The cushion is provided with one or more tubes ornozzles a for the purpose of inilation. I prefer to provide the top ofthe cushion with a fissure or depression a', formed in any desiredmanner, the fissure extending from the front of the cushion rearward toany desired extent. This fissure prevents upward pressure on theperinaeum when a person sits thereupon. This fissure may be formed bysecuring a portion of the top of the cushion intermediate the sides downfirmly upon the lower portion thereof, allowing the cushion to beinflated at each side thereof. The fissure may extend only part waytoward the rear of the cushion, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or it maypass to the rearward limit of the cushion dividing it into two separateair-chambers, as shown in Figs. 3 and .4; but I prefer to extend it onlypart way toward the rear of the cushion, as shown in Figs. l and 2. Sucha form relieves the perinaeum and also furnishes support at the lowerend of the spine, which makes a more comfortable seat.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a depression may be made at the center of thecushion. This depression may be made by forming a central opening in thecushion, as shown at A. The adjacent portions of the cushion which formsthe ioor or lower boundary of the fissure may have eyelets, as at a3,for the purpose of securing the cushion and its covering to the supportfor the cushion; or this floor may be dispensed with, an opening beingprovided in place thereof, as in Figs. 5 and 6. The cushion may alsohave a rubber lip d4 attached to it for the purpose of securing thecushion to the support A. f

C denotes the saddle or seat support of a bicycle. D denotes a seat-bedengaged with said support and preferably leavingan adjustableconnectiontherewith, as shown at d.

E denotes a spring preferably made of fiat metal bent into the shapeshown in Fig. l, said spring being engaged at the forward end to the bedD, as shown at d', the opposite arm E of the spring supporting the seat,the base A of the cushion being secured thereto in any proper manner, asby a bolt e passed through said base and loosely through said arm. Aloop e', of suitable material, also may engage said arm to said seat,providing for a movable engagement the one with the other. A spring F,moreover, is located between the base A of the cushion and theseat-bedDat the rear end thereof. It will be seen that this constructionforms a very sensitive and efficient elastic cushion, bearing the riderwith great ease and-adapting itself to any form of the person restingupon it.

With the provision of the spring F at the rear of the seat it is obviousthat th'e springV E may be made more elastic than if the strain upon theseat came solely upon the bend at the forward -end thereof.

I design to employ one or more of the springs inelastic base A, aninflatable cushion located 4o thereupon, a bed D, having means ofattachmentto a seatsupporlaa spring E, located between said bed and baseand having a movable connection with-` saidbase, andfaspring F, locatedbetween saidlbedland said-'basent their rear extremities, substantiallyas described.`

In testimony whereof Isig'nthis specifica*- tion inthe `presence oftwowitnesses.

THOMAS HL HICKS.

Witnesses:

N. S. WRIGHT, JOHN F. MILLER.-

